Why women should do gymnastics

It’s all over social media. No longer are fitness profiles flooded with posts of women getting their “sweat on” in a HIIT class, or running beachside – we’re seeing (and envying) women holding a headstand, handstand or walking for metres on end… upside-down!

Don’t be fooled – gymnastics is not as easy as it looks, and much more difficult than the cartwheels we did fearlessly as a kid. Still, everyday gymnastics is evolving, it’s accessible, and the movement is creating strong and mobile women both in and out of the gym.

“Gymnastic movements develop raw strength, building muscles that keep us moving well and away from injury,” says our resident coach Georgia Hardy-Hesson. “It also leads to a significant improvement in mobility and flexibility.”

The good news is we don’t have to start out risking our lives on the beam or bar.

The air squat (aka bodyweight squat), push-up, pull-up and sit-up variations are all considered part of the gymnastics family. These are all movements which – when performed correctly – will improve overall strength, coordination, stamina, balance and muscle endurance.

If you don’t already have these in your repartee, Hardy-Hesson says it’s time to get away from the machines and start adding bodyweight movements into your regular exercise routine.

The best part: You don’t need an expensive gym membership or even the latest active wear to get started. Try it in the lounge room in your trackies and give it a go!

Start small but it won’t be long – if you’re diligent with the movement pattern – before you’ll be looking to take the next step.

“From there you can advance to some of the more technical movements like handstand holds and walks — get some mats out and have fun,” Hardy-Hesson adds.

From personal experience this is even better with a workout buddy. Be silly with it — laugh at your graceful falls, celebrate your wins, and you’ll always feel more comfortable to “risk it a little” with a spotter (even if they’re just there for moral support)

Anyone who’s walked into a CrossFit box, trawled through Instagram or even been brave enough to venture to an adult gymnastics class – the sky’s the limit with how far you can take this.

Everyday working women, mums are all mastering 50-metre walks on their hands and ring muscle-ups (for a non-gymnast, these are an impressive display of strength and coordination).

Many of us were generally exposed to gymnastics in some shape or form as a kid – it’s time to get back to our roots, even if it’s just to improve our coordination a little. This will help with just about any other sport or discipline.